Thoughts on Christmas past and present by Jimmy Mitchell The Swiss celebrate Christmas as Family all around their Tables on the Holiest of Nights. Anyone who watches Rick Steves travel would see what I am describing. When I was in Zermatt in 1972 the only way you could get to this remote village was by train. At night the train stopped running so no late night Travel into this secure village was possible and no cars allowed at all. I gather by looking live on the Webcams Zermatt in 2014 does have a parking lot at the Banhoff which is where the train stops. Visitors are greeted by Hotel electric carts even horse drawn sleighs or carriages depending on the seasons . Hotels in Zermatt can be Pricey as it is an all season alpine village, There is snow in the higher elevations when I was there in the fall of 1972 there where loads of skiers. Now the night I slept on the mountain in the Goat shepherds hut was very reasonable, so when we left that next day we all where humbled by this very simple pious woman who lived a simple life. I doubt she ever married I am just not sure I will confess we tipped her well. What I did learn was when winter fell and deep snows she took her goats and went to Zermatt till spring. Her goats continued to work in a barn quartered for winter that the Hotel owned . Many homes farms have the barns attached right to the home so the Swiss can check on their animals durum the dead of night. Only recently did I find out when the animals are lead to the Alpine high pastures for the spring and summer their barns in the villages are scrubbed clean an host sleepovers or stalls rented to the humans . The old woman of the mountain worked as domestic for the Hotel for Room and board, her goats where milked and cheese made. I drank some of that milk its strong but rich and good. l love cheese so rest assured I partook of the Goats wonderful cheese. In spring as soon as the snows melted and the high alpine meadows where in bloom this Old woman with supply packs on her goats back she went back up the mountain to live work and pray. That mountain is a living breathing prayer a sanctuary of love light and laughter in her home The mountain as does any mountain claim lives and a few days after sleeping on the mountain a soul was lost in a tragic fall. The Swiss honor those lives that the Mountain has claimed . In the village of Zermatt is the final resting place of some who surrendered their souls to god from that mountain, others are memorialized by artifacts of their fateful climb in that cemetery by a stream. Vermont Christmas Eve 2014 In Townshend on Christmas eve night Children came to sing here at the HOME. What a delight it was to have seen them several times. These children are from about 6 years of age up to about 15, the staff has seen them grow before their eyes . They are good kids and the youngest blonde haired boy and a girl are full of the wonderment of life. This boy was so animated he stole the show and our hearts . His friend while the kids where singing star of night star so bright had a Light in his sweatshirt front pocket and would light it through his clothes. The absolute wonderment in this child eyes just like the Light that came into the word 2014 Years ago. There was a Shepard in this group dressed in 2014 AD clothes no costumes just pure joy , she the Shepard was the only one who had a staff she is blind but sees more than some of us. What I saw last night was a living gospel of love and light through innocence of a childs eyes. The sun came back Christmas after a week of rain. I wondered if it was God smile or the smile of our young friend who left to find his way in the world. His mother lives here in Townshend, she taught him well. Merry Christmas and to all and a very Happy New Year
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 11:19:52 +0000
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